Intro To Kiteboarding - Level 1, 2 & 3 + Ozone kite package!

This Awesome Lesson & kite gear package from Ozone gets you set up to go kiteboarding!

Save more! Get 20% off our board range after your lessons with this deal!

One thing you'll find about Kiteboarding as soon as you pick up your first kite is that it's a huge amount of fun, right from the beginning.

The most important thing you can do after any lesson is get yourself a kite to practise the techniques you've been taught. All kite sports require the development of good kite flying technique.

Doing two sports at once

Think of the kite-flying being one sport, & the board riding another, you would certainly have an advantage if you're good at snowboarding, skateboarding or wakeboarding, just as a good kite flyer would show good management of the kite while launching/landing, getting in & out of the water, getting around- controlling the kite with one hand, the board in the other hand, all before getting up on the board & riding away. Kiteboarding brings two sports together!

All the latest equipment is supplied... which means you are using the best gear available to accelerate your progression & be familiar with the type of equipment you're going to purchase. Modern kitesurf equipment flattens out the learning curve. Whereas old gear can make the sport seem impossible to master.

Intro to Kiteboarding - IKO Level 1, 2 & 3

This is three fun filled action sessions, usually done over 3 days:

First session is on land, learning all the fundamentals, safety & control while flying a power kite.

Second session is in the water, either two hours 'one on one' or three hours 'two on one' with your Instructor

Third session is back on the water, gaining confidence with kite & board together, water starts, up & riding short distances

All equipment is supplied for all our courses

This is the fastest way to get you up and riding. All instruction is carried out by a professionally trained instructor, certified in IKO, BKSA or Kites Method teaching systems. All our equipment is available for purchase in our kite shop... new season gear, or last seasons equipment new & used!

This action packed course will get anyone new to kiteboarding sorted with how to setup & control a modern SLE kitesurf kite safely. Definitely the first steps required to getting into the sport of kiteboarding!

All equipment supplied including wetsuit, booties, helmet, & vest, all kitesurf equipment. If you have your own gear please bring it along so we can check it & make sure it's fit for use.

If you order course as a gift, let us know and we'll post a Gift Voucher to the recipient as soon as the order is processed.

Course details:

Lesson 1 - (Level 1). Safety First. Learn and Understand 'The Wind Window' (see below) Site & wind assessment. Assessing risks. Rigging your own kite, understanding the centre of energy (the kite), control bar & types of input required, assisted launch & self launch, self landing, safety systems, deploying safety, flying the kite to develop power, learning about line lengths & how this affects the kites power, & the power stroke. Getting traction while staying in control, kiting across the wind. This first part of the course will be done on land and takes 2hrs.

Lesson 2 - (Level 2). Following on from the first day the student will need to show a good understanding of the above. Good management is the key to progression. Getting in & out of the water safely, deploying safety systems, technique for water re-launching the kite is then practiced. Controlling the kite at the side of the wind window, moving across the wind, then upwind. Then move into controlled body drags, focusing on staying in control of the kite, develop technique for getting around in the water, then repeating all this while holding the board. The next stage before the water start is the UBD, (upwind board drag) mastering this technique shows the instructor that you are ready for the water start on a board. This second part of the course takes 2hrs (1:1), or 3hrs if (2:1)with Instructor.

Lesson 3 - (Level 3). You now have good kite control & kite management skills, you are getting your first water starts on a board, possibly up & riding a few metres. This third water lesson really focuses on your board riding technique. Everyone's different, so keep in mind these new skills need to be practiced, repetition is key to getting to your goal of become a proficient kiteboarder.

Notes for Progression:

'Up wind body drag','Deep water pack down' & 'Self Rescue' techniques can be demonstrated by the Instructor during the course of lessons, especially during any low wind time. Keep in mind these techniques need to be practiced to become proficient. Learning & practicing these techniques is vital for your own safety when kiting deep water or isolated areas. Ask you Instructor to arrange a time for this specific lesson.

At Kitesports we will be holding group 'Progression Sessions' at different times during the summer season to help with all areas of riding for those new to the sport. Stay in touch with your Instructor through the shop to find out more..

Safety & Location of Kitesports training areas

There can never be enough emphasis on safety. Every kiteboarder needs to carry out a 'Site & Risk Assessment' before setting up at any kite spot. Good technique involves thinking about where your using the kite, and your surroundings. eg whats downwind of you if something goes wrong. Rigging the kite correctly 100% of the time. Launching and Landing the kite safely. Staying in control at all times. Always being aware of other users & beach goers..

The Wind Window

Understanding the Wind. The diagrams above help describe 'The Wind Window', this is where the kite will fly.

When you stand with your back to the wind, hold your arms straight out to each side, left arm to the left, right arm to the right, the 180 degrees in front of you is 'The Wind Window'. 'The Wind Window' also extends to straight above your head. The kite will only fly to the edge of the window, if you try to fly the kite past the edge of the wind it will 'luff' or fall from the sky. The kite must always be launched from near the edge of the window (the Low Power zone) , either the left side or the right, and then brought to the position above your head. This is called the 'Zenith' or 'Neutral' position. The neutral position extends from the left hand side, up and over your head, to the right hand side (always with your back to the wind). Launching and landing your kite from these positions is most important, as this is the safe (neutral) part of 'The Wind Window'. Once you have brought the kite up to the 'Zenith' position you can practice moving the kite in a small figure eight above your head, this is how you generate power with the kite. When you are comfortable with the controls of your kite you can start to make the figure eights larger, moving the kite further into the wind, this is when you'll start to feel what kind of power your dealing with. Leaning back against the kite and doing controlled 'figure eights' you should be able slide downwind with the kite. Controlled body drags or slides are important for good kite flying technique. The sooner you understand 'The Wind Window', the quicker you'll be mobile with your kite.

Areas for Kiteboarding in Christchurch

On the Map below is marked the area we use for our Kite School and for ongoing land & waterbased kiting here in Christchurch. 'The Estuary Map' is best in light to strong SE, E & NE winds, or medium to high tides. Expect 4-5 knots more wind at the Estuary than the beach when the wind is prevailing easterly. There is a learners area 700m upwind of the main kite spot, just ask a local & walk with your gear up the side of the main area till you reach the grass clearing, this is the rigging & launch spot called 'Sandy Point'.

South Brighton Beach (on Marine Parade, not shown on this map, but just south of Kitesports shop) kiting south of the Surf Club is a great place for Buggying or Landboarding on light wind days, or Kitesurfing in more than 12 knots of wind. Best in light to strong SE, E & NE winds, we also get a strong Notherlies (side shore), especially in spring. Watch out for the NW or SW, as these are gusty off shore winds not suitable for most kiters. We need to make a point of staying away from 'Busy Areas' eg Surf Clubs and areas where people may be swimming, sunbathing, or using the beach for other sporting activities. Stay South of the marked post at South Brighton Surf Club, the further South the better while you are learning. No one should be launching or landing kites in front of any of the Surf Clubs or buildings, THIS IS SOMETHING WE WILL ACTIVELY IN FORCE (better to self regulate than be regulated), as we want to prevent accidents before they happen. If you are Landboarding or Buggying past any Surf Club or between the Flags, do so slowly, with your Kite high and under control, making sure other beach users see you. NO KITESURFING between the flags, or where people are swimming (this is just common sense) If we focus on safety now, we'll be able to come back and Kiteboard another day, if not we'll probably end up with less options to kite. Have fun and Fly Safe!